The Planning and Zoning Commission hearing is set for 7 p.m. in City Hall, 54 Hill St. It comes nine days after the expiration of the city's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities.

Welch met with the zoning subcommittee in April and recommended "applying the brakes to the amendments to the zoning regulations," according to the minutes of the subcommittee meeting. He based the recommendation on an Aug. 29, 2013, U.S. Justice Department letter advising that federal criminal statutes still prohibit the sale and growing of medical marijuana.

On Monday, Welch said the city is waiting for Congress to amend the federal criminal statutes to legalize the possession of medical marijuana.

"The House already has done so," he said. "We're waiting for the Senate to act."

Only one person spoke last August when the commission conducted a public hearing on the moratorium.